COACHING AWARD: First-year Braves head coach Aaron Hogner (center) coached his team to a regular season conference title as well as a conference tournament championship. For his accomplishments during the first season, he was named the Big Smoky Mountain Conference Coach of the Year. (SCOTT MCKIE B.P./One Feather photos)
By SCOTT MCKIE B.P.
ONE FEATHER STAFF
First-year Braves head coach Aaron Hogner coached his team to a regular season conference title as well as a conference tournament championship. For his accomplishments during the first season, he was named the Big Smoky Mountain Conference Coach of the Year. Josh Cottrell, of Hayesville, was named the BSMC Player of the Year.
Three senior members of the Cherokee Braves team were named to the All-Conference team including Tye Mintz, Holden Straughan, and Justus Day. Two other Braves, Josiah Lossiah and Sterling Santa Maria, were named Honorable Mention.
Mintz averaged 16 points and 9.4 rebounds a game. On the season, he had 288 points, 169 rebounds, 33 assists, and 34 steals. Straughan averaged 14.5 points and 3.9 assists per game. For the year, he had 261 points, 52 rebounds, 70 assists, and 38 steals. Both Mintz and Straughan hit the 1,000 point mark for their career during the season.
Day, who played in 10 games on the season due to an injury, averaged 14 points per game as well as 3.4 rebounds. For the season, he had 140 points, 34 rebounds, and 9 steals. Lossiah ended the year with 120 points, 58 rebounds, 82 assists, and 58 steals. Santa Maria ended with 213 points, 97 rebounds, 26 assists, and 32 steals.
Other selections for the All-Conference team were: Josh Cottrell, Hayesville; Jeremiah Clark, Murphy; Deland Thomas, Rosman; Hooper Thomas, Rosman; Zeke Bradley, Swain County; Brier Younce, Swain County; and Seth Parker, Swain County.
Other Honorable Mention selections included: Dillan Phillips, Andrews; Kabe Ellis, Andrews; Dwain Cook, Hayesville; Blake McClure, Hayesville; Hayden McClure, Hayesville; Peyton Krieger, Hayesville; Tucker Price, Robbinsville; Landon Orr, Robbinsville; Elijah Wachacha, Robbinsville; Micah Nelson, Murphy; Hagan Newton, Murphy; Luke Stewart, Rosman; and Gaige Southards, Swain County.
FOR THREE: Cherokee’s Holden Straughan (#20) has been named to the Big Smoky Mountain All-Conference team. Straughan averaged 14.5 points and 3.9 assists per game. For the year, he had 261 points, 52 rebounds, 70 assists, and 38 steals.
JUMP SHOT: Cherokee’s Tye Mintz (#1) has been named to the Big Smoky Mountain All-Conference team. He averaged 16 points and 9.4 rebounds a game. On the season, he had 288 points, 169 rebounds, 33 assists, and 34 steals.
SOARING: Cherokee’s Justus Day has been named to the Big Smoky Mountain All-Conference team. He averaged 14 points per game as well as 3.4 rebounds. For the season, he had 140 points, 34 rebounds, and 9 steals.
POINT: Cherokee’s Josiah Lossiah has been named Honorable Mention Big Smoky Mountain All-Conference. He ended the year with 120 points, 58 rebounds, 82 assists, and 58 steals.
LINING IT UP: Cherokee’s Sterling Santa Maria has been named Honorable Mention Big Smoky Mountain All-Conference. He ended the year with 213 points, 97 rebounds, 26 assists, and 32 steals.
